The fuel pump test on the 2001-2006 2.7L V6 Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Stratus isn't hard.
In this tutorial, I'm gonna' explain how to test it using a fuel pressure tester. If you don't have a fuel pressure tester, I'll show you where you can buy one and the adapter you'll need to connect it to the fuel line.
I'm also going to explain how you can use starting fluid to check if your engine's no-start problem is due to a lack of fuel.
Contents of this tutorial at a glance:
NOTE: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:
Chrysler Vehicles:
- 2.7L V6 Sebring: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
- 2.7L V6 Sebring Convertible: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006.
Dodge Vehicles:
- 2.7L V6 Stratus: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Pump
Over the years I've worked as an automotive technician, I've noticed that fuel pumps usually fail in one of two ways.
In the most common type of failure, the fuel pump does not send any fuel to the engine and causes it to not start.
In the second type of failure that I have observed, the fuel pump sends just enough fuel to start the engine, but the engine does not run optimally.
Here's a basic list of the symptoms you'll usually see when the fuel pump does not send enough fuel to the engine:
Here are a few other symptoms you may see:
- Rough idle.
- Engine takes a long time to start (extended cranking time).
- Lack of power when you accelerate the vehicle down the road.
- Engine backfires through the intake manifold when you accelerate the vehicle down the road.
- Lean air fuel mixture trouble code: P0171: Fuel System Too Lean.
Tools Needed To Test The Fuel Pump Pressure
A fuel pressure tester can be connected to the fuel system to find out if the fuel pump works correctly or not.
The fuel pressure tester can be connected with a special adapter.
So far, I have found that the only adapter that allows the fuel pressure tester to be connected to the fuel line is the 5/16" T Fitting Hair Pin Adapter.
You can see what this adapter looks like in photo 1 of 2 in the image viewer above. In photo 2 of 2 you can see how this adapter is connected to the fuel line.
The fuel pressure tester kits that include the 5/16" T Fitting Hair Pin Adapter are the OTC fuel pressure OTC 6550 Master fuel injection kit and the Performance Tool W89726 Master fuel injection test kit.
Below you can find the links to these two fuel pressure tester kits:
TEST 1: Checking Fuel Pressure With A Fuel Pressure Gauge
FUEL PRESSURE SPECIFICATION:
2001-2006 2.7L V6 Chrysler Sebring: 53-63 PSI with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO).
2002-2006 2.7L V6 Chrysler Sebring Convertible: 53-63 PSI with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO).
2001-2006 2.7L V6 Dodge Stratus: 53-63 PSI with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO).
At the start of the tutorial I mentioned that the fuel pump's pressure can be tested with a fuel pressure tester.
And the adapter (that's required to connect the fuel pressure tester) is installed between the fuel injector rail inlet line and the plastic fuel line.
Photo 1 of 5 shows the plastic fuel line connected to the inlet line of the fuel injector rail. Photo 2 of 5 shows the fuel pressure tester adapter connected between them both.
To test the fuel pressure, besides the need to connect the fuel pressure tester adapter, the fuel pump has to be activated with a scan tool. Thankfully you don't need a scan tool to activate the fuel pump.
The fuel pump can be activated if we bypass the fuel pump relay (which is located in the underhood fuse and relay box).
In the test instructions below I'll explain how to bypass the fuel pump relay to activate the fuel pump and check its fuel pressure.
IMPORTANT: The jumper wire terminals must not be thicker than the male terminals of the fuel pump relay or the female terminals of the fuel pump relay socket may be damaged.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Disconnect the fuel inlet line from the fuel injector rail line (see photo 1 of 5).
NOTE: As a safety precaution wrap the fuel line with shop towel to catch/absorb the fuel that'll spill out. - 2
Connect the fuel pressure gauge adapter(s) to the fuel inlet line and to the fuel injector rail line (see photo 2 of 5).
IMPORTANT: If fuel spilled on your hands, wash them before you jumper the fuel pump relay socket in step 4! - 3
Remove the fuel pump relay. The fuel pump relay is located in the under-hood fuse box (see photo 3 of 5).
- 4
Connect a jumper wire between female terminals 16 and 15 of the fuel pump relay socket in the fuse box (see photo 4 of 5 and 5 of 5).
IMPORTANT: Do not jumper any other female terminals of the fuel pump relay socket! - 5
The fuel pressure gauge should read 53-63 PSI.
Let's examine your test results:
CASE 1: The fuel pressure gauge registered 0 PSI. This test result confirms that the fuel pump is not sending fuel to the engine. You can conclude that the fuel pump is bad and needs to be replaced.
CASE 2: The fuel pump pressure is way below the specified range but not 0 PSI. This test result tells you that the fuel pump is failing and needs to be replaced.
When the fuel pump does not send enough fuel to the engine, you'll usually see one or several of the following symptoms:
- The engine will start and run but as soon as your put the transmission in Drive and accelerate, the engine stalls.
- The engine starts and runs, but explosions come out from the intake manifold when you accelerate the engine.
- Lean air/fuel mixture trouble codes are registered in the fuel injection computer's memory and the check engine light is illuminated in the instrument cluster.
CASE 3: The fuel pump pressure is within the specified range. This is the correct and expected test result and confirms that the fuel pump is OK.
If the 2.7L V6 engine in your Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Stratus does not start, then you can conclude that the fuel pump is not behind the problem.
